The Ghostly Past

Chapter 11

Max Henderson was annoyed, and concerned. He and the others were stood under the brilliant lights Mr Murphy had installed in the smoking garden after everything had changed a few months ago. "Jess should be here, she should have a say in this." He pointed out.

"Jess will probably just agree with Leo." James chuckled. "Doesn't she always?"

"That's not fair." Leo said, "Jess has her opinions."

"And they're always yours." Max muttered.

He'd wanted to tell Clara the truth practically since meeting her. The girl had a strange kind of vulnerability, combined with a recklessness that was always leading her to trouble. Nevertheless, he'd felt an immediate connection upon meeting her, and the others had too, even if they didn't vocalise it. She just had a presence.

"Enough of this." Leo glanced at all of them. Always the leader. "This is what we're going to do. We admit that the ghosts are real. We tell her they come and go and are a fairly recent thing. But we tell her nothing about the curse. That's not her business."

The curse. Our curse, Max thought bitterly.

"It's better for her not to know." Leo continued. "It's all the better if she doesn't like us. It'll be easier all around when..." his voice trailed off.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it." James flapped his hands dismissively.

"We're seriously doing this?" Ryan was furious. "It'll just encourage her more. Next thing you know, she'll have joined a team of paranormal investigators and be bringing them in to hold seances!"

"You really don't like her." Max observed.

"I just..." Ryan trailed off. "I can't even put my finger on it really, but you're right. I don't like her. I think we're safer without her."

"Whether you like her or not, she's forced our hand." Leo ruled. "Do you all agree?"

"Sure." James gave a languid shrug. He never took anything seriously, not really, Max thought, not even this.

"Ryan?"

"Fine." He said, after a pause. "But remember that I warned you all that this was a mistake. You haven't said anything Max."

"That's because he's got a crush on her." James laughed.

"I just think it'd be easier to tell her everything." Max said slowly.

"No!" Leo snapped. "Haven't you been listening?"

"Fine." Max held up his hands in surrender. "Have it your way. But she's smart and this will come back to bite us."

"We should get back in." James said. "Hopefully Kim and Jess haven't eaten her alive."

The four men wandered back in. Max wondered how she would take it. She'd know they were still keeping things from her, he could sense that already. The pub was practically empty. A couple of old men were finishing their pints in one corner. Kim was at the table, on her phone, editing photographs.

He would never understand what Ryan saw in such a vain, insecure girl, always ready to bring other people down.

Jess was at the bar, getting one last drink. She looked bored, sipping at her gin and tonic alone.

Where was Clara?

He glanced around, seeing the others doing the same. Jess slid down from the barstool, walking casually back to the table. He noticed she didn't look at any of them.

"Ah you're all back." Kim said pleasantly. "What's the verdict?"

"Where's Clara?" Max asked, still looking.

"She went to the bathroom an age ago." Kim shrugged. "I don't think she enjoyed our company."

"Jess, can you...?" Max asked her, the first feelings of worry stirring in his stomach.

"Sure." She rose and disappeared into the toilets, returning a minute later alone. Her face was grave. "She's not there." She announced. "We must have missed her coming out." She gave Kim a significant look. No doubt they had been arguing.

Max stiffened, his thoughts racing. If she wasn't there then where would she be? Surely she hadn't...

"I'll ask Uncle Terry." James was striding to the bar. Terry Murphy, the pub owner, was a good man, James's uncle on his mother's side. They were all related in some way in Gloomsdale, be it generations apart. Mrs Barker, Clara's landlady, was his own great aunt. "Did you see a girl leave here not so long ago, dark hair, small, pale?"

"The one you were all arguing with?" Mr Murphy raised his eyebrows. "Sure, she came out of the bathrooms, watched you two girls having your spat and then left."

"Damn it!" Leo cursed, uncharacteristically angry. "Why didn't you stop her?"

"It's a free country." Mr Murphy sighed. "This is your mess, not mine."

"We have to go, now." Max was already heading for the door, torch in hand. "We have to find her."

"Hey!" James grabbed his arm, all trace of humour gone. "Not on your own."

"We need a plan." Leo agreed. "There's only a few ways she could have gone to get back to Mrs Barker's house. Ryan, will you take your car? Go the main roads, see if she's taken that route?"

Ryan nodded immediately, reaching for his car keys. That was something Max appreciated about Ryan. He was a good person, regardless of his temper, regardless of his dislike of Clara. He would never let her be hurt because of his personal preference.

"You know what to do if you find her?" Leo asked.

"I know the drill." Ryan said. "If she's conscious, get her in the car and take her home and call you. If she's not...keep my headlights on her and stay in the vehicle until help arrives."

"I'm coming with you." Kim insisted.

"The rest of us will go on foot in case she's gone through the cut." Leo ordered. "Jess, stay here unless she comes back."

"She's not going to come back!" Jess looked furious, "and even if she did, she'd pass one of you. You're just trying to keep me safe!"

"Can you blame me?" Leo asked, gripping her arms, "I love you, Jess. I'm not risking you."

"You can come with us." Kim finally offered into the stony silence.

"Thanks." Jess said stiffly.

That was all going to blow up sooner or later, Max thought. His foot was tapping impatiently, they didn't have time for this. Clara was out there. She was in danger. They needed to go.

"We're wasting time." He snapped. "Let's go."

The others nodded and they plunged out into the night, flashlights raised. Ryan and the girls ran for the car park, while he and the others jogged off down the road.

It was cold outside, uncomfortably so. He andthe other two men moved in triangular formation, sweeping the torches around.They needed to find her. They had to.